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Politico Reports on Schumer’s Immigration Reform – A binational Perspective
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By Melanie Nathan: Let us analyze this Politico report below; My comments:
From an LGBT and binational perspective - What is of great concern is that there is no mention of LGBT inclusion at this time and whatever the plan is – it is said to be on the hush – No answers. But we do know that Senator Schumer was at the Senate Judiciary committee hearing on June 3rd, 2009, for the Uniting American Families Act- UAFA (albeit for a brief few minutes) and that he heard the moving testimony of Shirley Tan and Gordon Stewart, (presuming he went to You Tube thereafter) as well as the support of Julian Bond from NAACP.
While I think there is a good chance that Schumer may include it at this early stage of a Bill introduction for comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) I am fearful that the interest of binational spouses dwarf in the eyes of the Senate by comparison to the other interest groups involved.
All I can say at this point is that if Senator Schumer fails to include UAFA or similar, at the outset, our cause is doomed and in the eyes of the LGBT community- the good and usually supportive Senator will join the ranks of ’ Democtratic Senatorial Persona Non Grata!‘ I am hoping that Senator Gillibrand would exert some influence here as I really believe that she has the binational community’s interests at heart and that she could take a role in influencing leadership on the issue.
I do not want to hear that he purposely excluded UAFA , only include it later. This did not work for me with Guiterrez’s lame snub and it will not work for me for any legislation any more. When Politicians subscribe to the old view – “keep the queers under the radar in case anyone notices,” all they are doing is perpetuating the closet – in essence endorsing a mindset that renders LGBTQI relationships unacceptable.
I am urging Senator Schumer to do one of two things:
1. Include us in CIR and make sure we cannot be excluded; (Although I have never liked the idea of us in CIR because it is going to be a big bad battle and we risk being dumped….. but we are compelled at this time to subscribe to this option because we have been cornered into it by Immigration Equality’s strategy) – OR
2. Take a significant and poignant role on UAFA and push for it as an emergency separate bill NOW! NOW!
Politico reports that Senator Schumer is pressing the immigration reform issue hard in the Senate:
Schumer is quietly spreading the word within the immigration community that he has the White House’s support to pass a bill by April. At the same time, Kerry has been mounting his own campaign to pass a climate bill — telling environmentalists, business groups and fellow senators that his bill will pass this spring, ideally by June. “Schumer would lead us all to believe that the White House is completely on board with doing all that in that time frame,” said Bruce Josten, head of government relations at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, whose lobbyists have met several times with Schumer and his staff.
Schumer is …invested in guiding an immigration bill to the floor, after assuming the chairmanship of the Senate immigration subcommittee from Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) last year. His work on the issue dates back to 1986, when he brokered a key compromise that helped pass the first major immigration overhaul in decades. “The only reason [immigration] has a shot is because [Schumer] has a pretty good understanding of what it would take to do it,” said Kessler.
Politico says there is a conflict between Schumer and John Kerry, who support climate change as the next issue the Senate should deal with.
Democratic aides in both the House and the Senate say the winning issue will be whichever one attracts the most Republican support. Both immigration and climate bills will need backing from moderate Democrats like Sens. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Evan Bayh of Indiana and Ben Nelson of Nebraska.
It has long been assumed that the climate bill would emerge as the final big issue of the year in the Senate, since immigration has been so divisive. But immigration got a boost in recent weeks, when top White House officials scheduled a conference call to reassure Latino activists that they would move on a reform bill this year.
Advocates argue that taking up immigration could help boost turnout among Latino voters in the midterm elections and drive a wedge between the GOP and Latino voters.
“The whole reason some people on the Democratic side view immigration as a great issue is because there is a side of the Republican Party that frankly cannot help itself on the issue,” said a senior Republican aide. “They go ballistic, and it comes across as anti-Hispanic — that’s not what they intend, but that’s the way it is perceived.” But even immigration activists admit that the economy is a serious hurdle.
Why are we still waiting for CIR? We need to get UAFA passed as a stand alone- uncomplicated – asap….
Word has it that there are countless gay and lesbian binational couples in the State of New York or in exile abroad, who want to come home to New York; however until legislation passes there is little hope for these couples as they are unable to sponsor their same-sex partners / spouses for greencards or Visas to the USA.
by Melanie Nathan. www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com
Nathan@privatecourts.com
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10 Responses to Politico Reports on Schumer’s Immigration Reform – A binational Perspective
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Melanie Nathan
January 23, 2010 at 12:19 am
I believe that the moment Immigration Equality made the unilateral step to take us down the CIR path – in their self perceived godliness, without reference or consultation with a broader group of GAY organizations, under the pretext that they are the primary immigration equality organization, – we were sold out…. ALL that energy couriting the Latina and broader immigration lobbies could have been spent on getting UAFA to the fore. They failed to show the stories in true context, the latter always over shadowed by their self promotion and fundraising. So that put us in a position where we were cornered into a strategy that is …..tenuous to say the least. While they say they are advocating for UAFA – it is a ruse – CIR has ribbed us of UAFA , just like I said in June of last year when I first got the picture. We cannot capture the time lost and the sybchronicity of political standing that has now dwained… I am not hopeless – but I am angry because we are hanging in the balance, I fully blame one irrresponsible organization.
FAEN
January 20, 2010 at 11:56 am
I hate to say this and I hope I am very wrong but we can forget any kind of CIR bill now that Dems are running scared. The Repubs will dig in even further. Someone tell me I’m wrong. Please!!!!!
Craig
January 20, 2010 at 12:51 am
Sadly, I had to leave my partner in San Francisco, who is the guy I plan to marry. I am from New Zealand, where he can get immigration rights, but our lives are there. I am now down in Sydney working, eagerly awaiting him to come to down in six months. I get so depressed and emotional, as I miss him so much. I love him, I wish the US would recognize our relationship. This is not a push for Gay Marriage, but a push to keep families together. I hope that all you guys with US Voting Rights can make this work.
Melanie Nathan
January 20, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Craig – It is the worst kind of discrimination imaginable. I really believe that if DOMA were repealed a lot could change.
Melanie Nathan
January 20, 2010 at 3:27 pm
I fear you may be right…mel
Melanie Nathan
January 19, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Thanks Ronald
Ronald
January 19, 2010 at 8:16 pm
This a short story of my life…and how it affect both of us…..as a Domestic Partner..
Its been a long time and years that I’m seeking for a Man of my Dreams, a Man that who Loves me, respect, cares me and ACCEPT me of what I am.
In a year of 2009 Month of June, one American MAN came into my life. He is my first Love ever that i had. He is so Romantic, Loving, Caring and Responsible Lover and a good Partner to me. In fact I made a promise to him that he is the only MAN I’m going to marry and live in the same ROOF, build a strong HAPPY FAMILY. Yes I’m just 22 years old and this young of age willing and want to be settle in a relationship..sounds so amazing doesn’t it..? Well its true…I’m going to Marry Him..Until now we still in communication..he made a call over here in Philippines and also I made a call too…so sweet…
Its pretty hard for me and to him that we are in a long Distance relationship. Every single day I treasure it..and sometimes i cry cause i cant help to think some thoughts…”How could be the world is unfair to us!!!! How?” I feel like I sob and DROWN…..I don’t ever want to see him crying and thinking about our situation..
Its killing me,,,,Its really does!!!
We have so much Plan in our LIFE!!!!!!
We are so much frustrated to think How he can get me here in Phils..we are…
How long we should wait…? How long..? Until this Immigration Equality Issue pass and let our partner get us,,sponsor us and live in the same ROOF together…..is it 1 year..? 5 years? 48 years..?
It seems they don’t understand us…this is the LIFE that we want..either “No government has the right to tell its citizen whom to LOVE. The only QUEER people are those who don’t love anybody!!!”
Every single person in this planet has the right to chose!!!
We have the “WILL”
Peter
January 19, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Another amazing article. Thanks for keeping everybody updated…All the best!
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